Directed by Matthew Vaughn and written by Bryan Singer and Zack Stentz, X-Men: First Class follows a string of cult blockbuster X-Men films over the last decade: X-Men (2000), X-Men 2: X-Men United (2003), X-Men 3: The Last Stand (2006), X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009). The film is a prequel to the series and traces back the roots of the fundamental conflict between the two main characters, Professor X and Magneto. Henry Pryce Jackman, a protégé of Hans Zimmer since 2006, has shot to prominence in recent years after work on The Dark Knight (alongside Zimmer) and Monsters vs Aliens as well as contributing to The Da Vinci Code, Pirates of the Caribbean 2, The Holiday, Pirates of the Caribbean 3 and The Simpsons Movie. X-Men: First Class is set to be one of the biggest blockbusters of 201, as all the previous movies in the series have been.